The Roll Call Room: School Resource Officer Chris Carlson

This City of Mount Vernon, WA government television program featured a detailed discussion with Officer Chris Carlson, the high school resource officer, about his role in the local schools. The conversation focused on the educational and community-based aspects of the school resource officer position, emphasizing prevention, intervention, and relationship-building rather than enforcement or discipline. Officer Carlson described various programs including a criminal justice class he teaches, intervention groups for at-risk youth, and safety initiatives such as crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). The discussion also highlighted the importance of having a dedicated officer on campus for rapid response to threats and the benefits of ongoing partnerships between the police department and the school district. No procurement, contracting, or budgetary matters were discussed during this meeting.